[ad_1]
Although new COVID-19 infections in the country have generally been declining, government quarantine managers urged Filipinos to be “very cautious” during the Christmas season, as the surge in new cases has recently affected other countries.
“I and the mayors (of Metro Manila) have spoken and are very cautious about the change to the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) here in Manila,” the head of implementation of the National Task Force against COVID-19 said Thursday ( NTF), Carlito Gálvez Jr..
“His recommendation is that, in case the restrictions are lowered, maybe it could happen next year after the holidays,” Gálvez said as new infections increased in Davao city and Benguet province.
Most of the country has been under the less restrictive general community quarantine (GCQ) or MGCQ in recent weeks.
Metro Manila, Batangas, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Tacloban City, Iligan City and Lanao del Sur were placed under GCQ for the entire month of November, while the rest of the country remained under MGCQ.
On November 20, the city of Davao switched from the more lenient measure from MGCQ to GCQ after registering an increase in COVID-19 cases.
In other countries, a third wave of infections has been hitting the United States in recent weeks, while a similar increase is emerging in South Korea.
The World Health Organization has also warned of more new cases in Europe. (Related story on page A14)
Be very careful
Gálvez said that local governments in Metro Manila have been told to remind residents of the need to be very careful during the Christmas season.
He said that the NTF also asked the Department of Commerce and Industry about the need for regular inspections of shopping malls, restaurants and other commercial establishments where people will flock during the holidays.
“We remind shopping center owners to have stricter implementation [of health protocols] through their marshals. We hope it is very [likely] that cases will increase during the sales and boxing days when people will actually flock to the malls, “he added.
Gálvez said he has also met with the leadership of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to assist in “stricter enforcement” of minimum health standards.
The Interagency Working Group for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is expected to present recommendations for quarantine categories in various parts of the country.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said President Duterte will announce the quarantine classifications for the month of December on November 30.
“Although it is a holiday on the 30th, I have had to personally change my schedule because they told me that the President will have a talk with the people on November 30, which is a holiday,” said Roque.
Read next
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and more than 70 other titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download from 4am and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For comments, complaints or inquiries, please contact us.
[ad_2]
